DRAYTON, Michael.
[Map of Denbighshire, Flintshire and part of Caenarvonshire from Drayton's fantastical 'Poly-Olbion'][Denbigh Shyre; Flint Shyre; Parte of Carnaruan Shyre.]London, 1612. 255 x 330mm.A very decorative map of Denbighshire, Flintshire and part of Caenarvonshire, ignoring political boundaries and instead focusing on natural features, with hills and rivers populated by allegorical figures. Only major towns are marked. Conway, St Asaph. Wrexham, Ruthin and the Dee are all shown. Michael Drayton (1563-1631), a prominent poet, is believed to have started work on his 'Poly-Olbion' in 1598. This epic topographical poem, divided into thirty songs written in alexandrine couplets, ran to nearly 15,000 lines of verse. Each song described one, two or three counties, describing their topography, traditions and histories. The First Part was published in 1612, with eighteen maps probably engraved by William Hole (who signed the frontispiece). Drayton had been a favourite of Queen Elizabeth's court, but was not so popular with James I. Perhaps to rectify this the 'Poly-Olbion' was dedicated to Henry, Prince of Wales, but Henry died in 1612, the year of publication. The work did not sell well, and it was not until 1622 that Drayton could find a publisher for the second part, which contained ten more maps. Drayton intended to compose a further part to cover Scotland, but no part of this work is known to have survived. Despite these setbacks Drayton was still prominent enough to be buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey when he died in 1631. It was only posthumously that the Poly-Olbion became a literary classic.
[Ref: 14040]
£350.00
($464 • €404 rates)

DRAYTON, Michael.
[Map of the Cardiganshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire from Drayton's fantastical 'Poly-Olbion'][Cardygan Shyre; Movntgomery Shyre; Radnor Shyre..]London, 1612. 260 x 340mm.A very decorative map of Cardiganshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, ignoring political boundaries and instead focusing on natural features, with hills and rivers populated by allegorical figures. Only major towns are marked. The River Wye is also shown. Michael Drayton (1563-1631), a prominent poet, is believed to have started work on his 'Poly-Olbion' in 1598. This epic topographical poem, divided into thirty songs written in alexandrine couplets, ran to nearly 15,000 lines of verse. Each song described one, two or three counties, describing their topography, traditions and histories. The First Part was published in 1612, with eighteen maps probably engraved by William Hole (who signed the frontispiece). Drayton had been a favourite of Queen Elizabeth's court, but was not so popular with James I. Perhaps to rectify this the 'Poly-Olbion' was dedicated to Henry, Prince of Wales, but Henry died in 1612, the year of publication. The work did not sell well, and it was not until 1622 that Drayton could find a publisher for the second part, which contained ten more maps. Drayton intended to compose a further part to cover Scotland, but no part of this work is known to have survived. Despite these setbacks Drayton was still prominent enough to be buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey when he died in 1631. It was only posthumously that the Poly-Olbion became a literary classic.
[Ref: 14049]
£350.00
($464 • €404 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Merionethshire.]Merionethshire Described 1610.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 385 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Harlech castle, armorials and compass rose. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11619]
£600.00
($796 • €692 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Radnor]The Countie of Radnor Described and the Shyretownes Sittuatione Anno 1610.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 390 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Radnor, armorials, compass rose and the Prince of Wales' feathers. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11620]
£450.00
($597 • €519 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Anglesey]Anglesey Antiently called Mona, Described 1610.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 390 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the island, with an inset plan of Beaumaris, armorials and a large compass rose. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11624]
£600.00
($796 • €692 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Cardiganshire]Cardigan Shyre Described with the due forme of the shiretown as it was surveyed by J.S. Anno 1610.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 385 x 515mm. An early impression with good margins. Faint damp stain bottom corners.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Cardigan, armorials and compass rose incorporating the Prince of Wales' feathers. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11625]
£550.00
($730 • €635 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Denbighshire]Denbigh Shire.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 385 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Denbigh, two large armorials and a vignette of Neptune in armour astride a sea horse. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11626]
£550.00
($730 • €635 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Montgomeryshire]Montgomery Shire.London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 385 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Montgomery, armorials and a compass rose. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11627]
£650.00
($863 • €750 rates)

SPEED, John.
[The rare Latin-text edition of Speed's map of Flintshire]Flintshyre described...London, John Sudbury & George Humble, 1616, Latin text edition. 380 x 510mm. An early impression with good margins.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset town plan of Flint and St. Aspah's, armorials and St. Winifred's Well. On verso is a Latin text history of the county. This example comes from the only non-English edition of Speed's Theatre, produced for the Continental market. Its lack of success makes it comparatively scarce: it was only after 1918 that the British Museum obtained a complete Latin volume.CHUBB: xxiv; SKELTON 11.
[Ref: 11628]
£450.00
($597 • €519 rates)

SPEED, John.
[Speed's map of Monmouthshire]The Countye of Monmouth with the sittuation of the Shire-towe Described Ann 1610.London: William Humble, 1646. Coloured. 390 x 510mm.Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, this is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with an inset plan of Monmouth, armorials, a portrait of Henry V and the Prince of Wales' feathers. It was published in John Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', with a description of the county and a table of place names on the reverse.
[Ref: 18229]
£725.00
($962 • €837 rates)